Closing arguments are finished in the trial of on-leave Austin Police Cpt. Curt. Rude. The case is now in the hands of an Olmsted County jury, and a decision could take minutes or hours.

Rude is charged with felony theft, drug possession and gross misdemeanor interfering with property in official custody after allegedly taking two bottles of the prescription drug OxyContin Nov. 6, 2007, the same day as his election to the Austin School Board.

Rude still serves on the board, with his term expiring in 2011.

According to a criminal complaint, the drug in evidence was labeled “Mark Johnson,” a close friend of Rude’s and a former KAAL-TV reporter who died of an OxyContin overdose in earlier 2007.

In closing arguments this morning, the state prosecutor argued that Rude unlawfully possessed the OxyContin and acted nervously, while the defense argued Rude was simply being a good cop and doing research.